SARATOGA SPRINGS – If, by some sudden change of fortune, Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide does run in Saturday’s Travers Stakes – and there’s a chance he’ll at least be entered – then he’s a big threat to beat them all, trainer Barclay Tagg said yesterday.

The popular New York-bred gelding hasn’t won a race since the Preakness, finished a well-beaten third in the Belmont Stakes and Haskell, then got sick, hasn’t had a workout in weeks and remains doubtful for the “Midsummer Derby,” which has five confirmed starters.

“Nothing has changed,” Tagg said at his daily 11 a.m. press conference. “He’s highly unlikely. I don’t know how to put it any better than that.”

But if Funny Cide does run, can he win?

“Absolutely,” said Tagg, a steely glint in his eye, “and tell everybody I said so.”

Entries are due tomorrow morning, and Tagg said he’ll discuss with the Sackatoga Stable owners whether to put up the $5,000 entry fee.

“If Barclay wants to do it, we’ll do it,” Sackatoga managing partner Jack Knowlton said. “If there’s a possibility of running in the Travers, how could we not? If he says, ‘I’ve almost got him right but I need three more days,’ then we’ll buy the time.”

If Funny Cide does enter, he has until 45 minutes before the Travers’ 6:25 p.m. post time to scratch, and whether he runs could depend on the condition of the other horses in the race. In fact, Tagg began his press conference by asking reporters, “What do you know about a horse named Empire Maker?”

With $1 million on the line, Tagg said, “It might be a good idea to enter in case there are any defections, if the field comes up light. It looks a little better today. He’s sound, he’s dead fit, he’s pretty healthy. He’s just not 100 percent – my guess is 95 percent – and you have to be 100 percent to run against the Empire Makers and the Ten Most Wanteds. Those are good horses.”

Told that Bobby Frankel, who trains archrival Empire Maker, said Funny Cide will not run, Tagg responded, “Maybe he knows something I don’t.”